Month: June 2026

Picture for a minute two heads bowed together; mother and daughter as the former demonstrates the intricacies of lace making (or spinning, or straw plaiting …) to the latter. Picture too a father and son working together on the land, the conversations, the life advice, the daily mentoring. Then look a little further into those children’s futures. The girl may have commenced work under the supervision of a seamstress, and the boy may have learnt a trade as an apprentice to a blacksmith or bodger. While no one disputes that life was tough in numerous ways in pre industrialised Britain, there are some aspects of family and community from which we could glean some wisdom in our highly individualistic, computerised society.  

Loneliness, for example, is a huge problem in the twenty-first century, not only amongst the elderly and housebound but throughout all sectors of society. Many move away from the family home for education or work, settle down and then go on to raise their own children without the support of grandparents and plentiful aunts, uncles and cousins. Online friendships are no substitute for real ones, chatting over a mug of tea or working out at the gym together. We are not designed to live in isolation and even the most introverted amongst us need community.  

Enter crafting workshops! These offer a delightful space both to pass on traditional skills to others and also to nurture community. Whether it be a six-week evening course, a Saturday workshop or a rolling class, if you decide to run one of these you will most probably not be short of attendees. There are so many benefits for joining with others to craft together, not least that it is a wonderful way to ensure these time honoured skills are not lost but are indeed revived.  

With many of us using screens for our work, there is an increasing yearning to get away from them during our leisure time. In tandem with this, many of us do not work with our hands anymore and are therefore losing out on the calming sensory input of handling different textures, from soft wool through to squishy clay. While we get far too many unhelpful dopamine hits from pings on social media, the sense of satisfaction when we have mastered a new skill or completed a beautiful project is a much healthier one. In addition, the repetitive actions required in many crafting techniques are also calming, necessitating just the right level of concentration to block out the cycle of anxiety while allowing for easy conversation. All these, combined with a warm welcome and the sense of community in shared learning, do wonders to promote a sense of wellbeing and acceptance.  

Whether you are just considering holding a crafting class, or are a veteran workshop facilitator, there are so many options open to you. You could offer general classes open to any member of the public, you could do one-off events such as hen parties (pottery sessions are often popular) or you could tailor classes towards a specific group of people such as the over sixties, after school clubs or sessions for home-educated children. As long as your craft travels, you will need to find an appropriate venue. This could be within a local Craft Quarter or Centre, in a town or church hall or within a school.  

You might be able to get funding to take your craft into a local church or other centre which welcomes homeless men and women in to have a shower, collect post, enjoy a warm meal and seek advice.  Alongside this, a table which offers a space to paint or craft can be very therapeutic, increasing self-worth and maybe discovering hidden talents. It is also much easier to converse while focusing on creating something with your hands, and all around the table have a shared interest in the particular craft.  

You will need to do some local research, gauging your potential client group and then when you have a workshop organised, advertising both in local magazines/notice boards and online is foundational to your success. Once you’ve done some number crunching, it can often be better to start small, with a group size you feel comfortable with. You will also need to find some craft class insurance. While there are a plethora of companies offering craft class insurance, it is well worth making sure you understand what the package includes, as there will be variations. The good news is that here at Craft Insurance our basic insurance package will cover you for teaching, demonstrating and selling your craft within any setting. It includes public and product liability insurance and additionally contains professional indemnity insurance. As well as covering you for teaching and demonstrating, this also covers you if you unknowingly give any incorrect advice.  

Our prices may not be the lowest you can find online, but this is a conscious decision; we want to be sure that you get what you pay for with no surprise exclusions or confusing wording. We are a family business, with knowledge and experience passed down through generations. We answer each enquiry ourselves, so whether it be a phone call or an online request, either Sam or Naomi are here to reply. Craft class insurance is not an add on here with us; it is part of your basic package which also allows you to sell your stunning products online and at craft fairs.  

So, if you already have a basic insurance package with us, you will be covered for craft workshops too! Why not get dreaming; what are some ways you could pass on your skill, create community and add to your income? Ask a few questions, gather a few screen-weary, well-motivated students and have fun passing on your finely honed artisan skills in a refreshing atmosphere of welcome, eagerness and enthusiasm.  

As we edge towards the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, our young people finally reach the touch line of the exam marathon they have been running, and many of us feel a general weariness increasing, our thoughts begin to turn towards summer holidays. Whether these will mainly be spent at home, holidaying within the UK or enjoying some sunny climes overseas, the dreaming can begin! 

The planning and the imagining can become an integral part of the holiday fun, as we consider summer outfits or envision a seasonal refreshing of our home and garden. This dreaming will subsequently turn into an exchange of cash for some new items to add a sparkle to home or wardrobe, and having an understanding of people’s summer shopping habits can open up more sales for hand crafted businesses. While many still flood to major retailers or online stores, an increasing number of consumers are become more discerning in their purchasing and are looking for products which will not only be unique, made with care and which display traditional crafting skills, but will also have longevity and be sustainably made. Quite some list to fulfil! However, if you have a business selling hand made crafts you will undoubtedly tick all those boxes. 

With summer holidays in mind, customers might be searching for fun beach bags, breezy cotton outfits or eye-catching sun hats. As the season of weddings approaches, there will also be a demand for elegant linen outfits, stylish hats and classy handbags. While many couples produce a wedding gift list, others may have what they need already, and so guests have the opportunity to buy something completely unique and gift the newly weds with a sparkle of creative charm which will last throughout their lives. 

If most of the holidays will be spent at home, it’s a great opportunity to give house and garden a fresh look. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be repainting the whole house; rather by adding some inviting cushions, light toned throws, outdoor lanterns, pretty plant pots and breezy bunting you can create a space of effortless charm in the aesthetic of your choice. Maybe this will be a place for gathering friends for a barbecue on a sunny afternoon, or for an alfresco brunch on a slow Saturday morning, or simply to share a cup or tea and scone, loaded with strawberry jam, with a good friend. 

As crafters, once you have produced a good stock of summer themed items, you will need to find a place to sell them to your delighted customers. Craft fairs are always wonderful ways to not only sell, but to meet customers face to face and make local connections. Do check out our other blogs which offer advice about how to make the most of a fair. 

If you want to sell online, you may decide to build your own website. However, if you are just dipping your toe into the world of web-based sales, you may prefer to use a tried and trusted online marketplace, Etsy being one of the most well known of these. One of the advantages of Etsy is that it is fairly intuitive to set up, no technical skills are required, and that listing fees are reasonable. 

If you decide to explore this route, you will then need to think about insurance. You may be asking yourself, “Can’t I simply use Etsy seller insurance?” The answer is yes and no! Etsy does have a Purchase Protection Programme, but this does not take the place of professional insurance and as such it is quite limited in its scope. Etsy seller insurance mainly covers products lost in transit or arriving later than the stated date. It could also come into play if a customer is not satisfied that the product matches the listing description, when Etsy are satisfied that it does so. Good to note…make sure your listing descriptions are precise and photographs are clear. 

So, while Etsy seller insurance exists, it has clear and limited reach and you will need to consider comprehensive insurance cover. Our baseline package for all craft businesses starts with product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers you for any claim made by a customer that your product has harmed or caused damage to themselves or their property. Even if this is not the case, the insurance will pay for any compensation owed or legal fees involved. 

Public liability covers you for any claims, whether founded of not, of harm or injury caused on your premises or by your business activities. While there could be any number of scenarios where this could happen on a business premises or at a craft fair, it might seem unlikely if you are making your goods at home and selling online. However, it is not beyond the realms of imagination to picture a courier slipping on an icy driveway or tripping over a child’s scooter left on the path to your front door, thus making you very thankful that you have public liability insurance in place. 

The potential consequences of running into difficulties without these insurances prompt most sellers to investigate further. We are a family run business ourselves and have the benefit of experience and knowledge in the craft insurance industry passed down through the generations. We do not use call handlers; either Naomi or Sam are here to answer calls as they come through. If you prefer to contact us online, you can use the form on the website, and we will reply directly and give you an individually tailored quote based on the information you give us. 

We wish you every success as you sell your unique and beautiful products online and look forward to hearing about your business and helping you get the best insurance package for your business needs. 

Making candles and wax melts has become one of the most popular craft businesses in the UK over the past few years. What often starts as a hobby on a kitchen table can quickly turn into a thriving small business, with products selling at craft fairs, online and through local retailers. If that sounds like you, or if you are just starting out and wondering whether you need insurance, the short answer is: yes, you do. 

Candle business insurance is not just a box to tick before your first craft fair. It is the thing that protects your finances, your reputation, and your peace of mind if something unexpected goes wrong. And in a business where fire, heat and open flames are part of the process, the unexpected is always worth planning for. 

Why wax melt and candle makers are more exposed than they might realise. 

Here is the reality that most new candle makers do not fully consider. You can pour the perfect candle, write clear instructions, package your products beautifully and send them out with care. But once that candle or wax melt is in a customer’s home, you cannot control what happens next. 

Wax melts can be a fire risk if the wrong kind of melter is used. Candles left burning too close to curtains, furniture or bedding can cause serious damage. Most people are sensible, but distractions happen. Electric wax melters get left on overnight. Instructions get skimmed or ignored. Fire and rescue guidelines recommend that wax melts are not left melting for longer than four hours at a time, but not every customer will read that. 

As the person who made the product, you are not responsible for how a customer chooses to use it. But if that customer suffers injury or property damage and believes your product was at fault, they have the right to make a claim against you. Defending that claim, even if you have done nothing wrong, can cost thousands of pounds in legal fees alone. Without candle maker insurance in place, those costs fall entirely on you. 

What wax melt and candle making insurance actually covers. 

The foundation of any candle business insurance policy is public and product liability cover. This protects you if a customer or member of the public makes a claim against you for injury or property damage caused by your products or your activities. It covers your legal defence costs and any compensation awarded, even if the claim turns out not to be your fault. 

You will also need proof of public liability insurance before most craft fair organisers will allow you to take a stall. It is one of the most commonly requested documents when booking events, so having it in place means you are ready to trade wherever you want. 

At Craft Insurance, we have spent the past year improving and simplifying our cover so that candle makers get more protection without more complexity. Professional indemnity is now included as standard with every liability policy, so if you teach candle making or run your own exhibition, you are covered for that too. 

If you want to protect the physical side of your candle business as well, our business items cover has been simplified so you no longer need to separate saleable stock from raw materials. Tools, equipment, display stands, card readers, laptops and finished stock are all covered under one straightforward category. Insure as much or as little as you need, and there is no complicated split to worry about at claim time. 

Why Craft Insurance is the right choice for candle business insurance. 

This is an area where we want to be straightforward with you. Some insurers have specific exclusions that affect candle makers, home fragrance sellers and wax melt businesses. Products like room sprays and reed diffusers are excluded by certain providers without it being obvious until you need to claim. With Craft Insurance, what you make is what we cover. We have very few exclusions and we are always upfront about what they are. 

We also do not charge administration fees. If you need to change your policy, add cover or remove something, there is no extra cost. No cancellation fees either. Other insurers charge up to £15 for amendments that we handle at no charge, because we think that is simply the right way to treat customers. 

We have been providing candle making insurance and craft business cover since 1986. 

Nearly four decades of focus on crafters means we understand the risks involved in a candle business in a way that general insurers never could. Our policies are underwritten by Hiscox, one of the UK’s most respected specialist insurers, with an award-winning claims service if you ever need to use it. 

When you call us, you will speak to Samantha or Naomi. Not a call centre. Not an automated system. Two people who know this business inside out and will take the time to make sure you have exactly the right cover for what you do. 

Getting your candle maker insurance sorted is easier than you think. 

Fill in our straightforward online form, give us the basic details about your candle business and what you need to cover, and you will have your quote in minutes. Your documents are issued instantly on payment, so you can be covered and ready to trade the same day. 

If you get stuck or want to talk through what you need before you start, pick up the phone. Sam or Naomi will walk you through the whole thing. Getting the right candle business insurance in place is one of the most important steps you can take as a candle maker. We have been helping crafters do exactly that for nearly forty years, and we are here to help you too. 

Get a Quote Now | Speak to Sam or Naomi